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Saturday, June 11, 2011

Audi R18 Takes 24 Hour of Le Mans Prototype Class Pole

Photo Credit: Audi AG

The 79th running of the oldest running 24-hour endurance race, the classic Le Mans event on the Circuit de la Sarthe brings some new look prototypes and a the recipe for a fierce LME category (better known last year as GT) fight. A prelude to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, qualifying for the race gives a sample to the sounds and speed expected for the race's 2011 edition.

For the first time since 2006, Audi Team Joest will lead the field of 56 sports cars to the start of the full day race. Taking the glory of the pole position, the #2 Audi R18 TDI prototype car piloted by Andre Lotterer flew around the Circuit de la Sarthe's 13.629 kilometer distance in 3 minutes and 29.939 seconds. Just one-hundredth of a second behind, the #1 Audi R18 TDI prototype sealed a strong front row for the German automaker. The third Team Joest Audi R18 TDI qualified 5th for the start of the 24 Hour of Le Mans.

Expected to want vengance for the defeat in the 2010 Le Mans race and now 2011 qualifying, Peugeot has the resources to reclaim their home endurance racing event. Three factory Peugeot 908 Le Mans prototype sports cars and an Oreca-fielded effort are planning to better endure the 24 hour distance for a second Le Mans victory in three years. In qualifying, the highest flying member of the Peugeot camp was the #9 car wheeled by Simon Pagenaud. Pagenaud is taking a departure from his regular ride competing in the American Le Mans Series for Highcroft Racing in a Honda Racing Development prototype. For Saturday, Simon Pagenaud is paired with Pedro Lamy and Sebastien Bourdais.

Factory Aston Martin vehicles in the LMP1 class were far from a figure in qualifying at Le Mans with their AMR-ONE cars failing to find speed. In fact, most of the LMP2 cars were faster than the Aston Martin racing team vehicles. The british-based race is still seeking a return to the podium since rejoining the sports car racing arena in the Le Mans prototype class. Aston Martin has two victories in the GT1 production car class in 2007 and 2008.

Prevailing in the production-based vehicle LME category in 2011, the BMW M3 GT took first and third in class qualifying sandwiching a Ferrari 458 Italia. Lapping the track at 3 minutes and 57.592 seconds, the BMW Motorsports cars is in a class where the top-9 vehicles are separated by 3.5 seconds in qualifying.

A very pivotal part to setting up the 24 Hours of Le Mans, qualifying will quickly become less meaningful when the green flag to the 2011 endurance race drops.